STEVE Fletcher believes Cherries' season of thrilling cup crackers will stand them in good stead as Sean O'Driscoll's boys prepare for their ultimate Division Three play-off showdown with Bury.

A 0-0 draw in Lancashire on Saturday means both sides now go into tomorrow's return leg at Dean Court (7.45pm) knowing whoever wins on the night will be at the Millennium Stadium for the final on Saturday, May 24.

Extra-time and penalties await the teams should the tie still be locked after 90 minutes.

But having been through no fewer than five genuine cup nail-biters this term, including three lots of extra-time, two penalty shoot-outs, a golden goal success and one last- minute FA Cup win, Fletcher thinks Cherries have shown they can cut the mustard when it matters.

The powerful striker said: "We've played the Crewes and the Cardiffs and raised our game, we just need to raise it up that one level again to do the business against Bury. But there's 90 minutes to play and that's a hell of a long time.

"They'll be a lot of nerves flying around, a lot of emotion, euphoria, expectation, it all goes into one game now. If you forget about the final, the whole season is down to this one game.

"It won't be about who is the best footballing team and who deserves to go up, it'll be who grabs the game by the scruff of the neck and who takes their chances.

"Our home record's quite formidable but the play-offs are a different kettle of fish. It's a one-off game, it's 0-0 and we're starting from scratch. It's going to be who can hold their nerve on the day.

"We know it could go to extra-time and penalties and I'm sure we'll be practicing penalties in training but we hope it won't go that far."

Fletcher added: "For such a young squad we've had a lot of experience in the past few years, almost getting into the play-offs in 2001 and then relegation last season.

"And we've already shown this season we can raise our game when it matters and hopefully we can do it again tomorrow."

On arguably the worst pitch they have played on this season, Cherries were forced to absorb some intense Bury pressure before the Shakers' Jamie Stuart was sent-off on the stroke of half-time for violent conduct.

But although Cherries enjoyed more possession after the break, the pitch conditions stopped them from playing any real passing football with their best chances mostly coming from Neil Young hitting balls into the box from distance.

Stephen Purches came closest to breaking the deadlock when his near-post effort rolled agonisingly along the line after hitting the back of oblivious Bury keeper Glyn Garner's leg.

Cherries were forced to reshuffle before kick-off when Marcus Browning was ruled out with a groin problem while last week's two-goal hero James Hayter was restored to the attack in place of Scott McDonald.

But Cherries boss O'Driscoll has not ruled out influential midfielder Browning making a return for the second leg after an ultrasound scan on Saturday revealed no major damage. O'Driscoll said: "It's just whether we risk Marcus or not, it maybe a game it's worth risking him in.

"The second leg's a one-off cup tie with penalties so you do start to wonder whether we're in store for some more of the drama we've already had at the Fitness First this season. I just hope there's no controversy and the best team wins on the night."